Right Honorable Abdulmatin A. Gbadegesin, Speaker of the Independence Hall Legislative Council, 15th Assembly, sits down with the Indy Press to discuss his plans for the house, the welfare of Katangites, and the business of legislation.

Thank you for your time. For the benefit of Katangites who may not know you, can you introduce yourself?

I am Right Honorable Abdulmatin Adedamola Gbadegesin, Speaker of the Independence Hall Legislative Council, 15th Assembly. I am a 300-level law student from the Faculty of Law and an indigenous student of the University of Ibadan from Oyo State. I also serve as Vice President of the Federation of Oyo State Students’ Union, among other portfolios.

You are a returning member of the Legislative Council, and now you are the Speaker. Did you always intend to run for the speakership?

Yes. Toward the end of the last assembly, as a politician, we plan ahead, we project, we are visionary. I shared my vision with my fellow honorable members and we unanimously agreed on my candidacy, just as we agreed on each other’s candidacies. There may be disagreement in other matters, but on this, there was support and cooperation from the very beginning.

Speaking of the previous administration, what was your relationship with the former Speaker, Right Honorable David Gbadebo?

Right Honorable David Gbadebo, as Speaker of the assembly where I served as an honorable member, was our leader. So the relationship was one of leadership and followership. Beyond that, as Katangites, there was also a relationship of brotherhood. He was our leader, and we followed him, and the bond of brotherhood remained alongside that.

Looking back at the 14th Assembly, on a scale of one to ten, what would you rate it?

I believe that together, as a council, we did our best. But to rate it that should be left to Katangites, to the press, and to anyone observing from the outside. Internally, I can assure you that we gave our best in the last assembly.

By constitution, you hold interpretive authority over the Independence Hall constitution. What relationship do you believe should exist between the Legislative Council and the Executive Council – and what should not exist?

First, I want to address a common misconception  that the legislature and the executive are enemies. The same misconception exists about the press and politicians. We are not enemies. We are two arms of the same administration, working from different sides toward the same goal.

Our duty is oversight. Theirs is execution. We ensure they do not go beyond constitutional provisions, and that what they do serves the welfare of all Katangites  not just themselves. When they bring a budget, we ask: how feasible is this? What purpose does it serve? When there is a project?  We also ask does this serve every Katangite, or just a select few?

Beyond our distinct duties, there should also be a relationship of brotherhood, because we are all Katangites. That brotherhood allows us to support one another outside our formal roles. But our duties must never be compromised. The relationship of brotherhood shall remain our responsibilities, however, are non-negotiable.

What are the notable differences between serving as an honorable member and serving as Speaker?

There is a clear difference between a floor representative, an honorable member, and a Speaker. As a floor rep, your duty is to the residents of your floor. Even now, as busy as I am, I still visit my floor regularly. Two days ago I was there resolving an issue with one of the air conditioning units. This morning I went around the rooms to address some challenges. That is the work of a floor rep.

As an honorable member, the work shifts to policy-making, lawmaking, and oversight. The floor rep role connects to the honorable role only in the sense that you can return to your floor, gather your constituents’ concerns, and bring them to the house. Beyond that, the duties are distinct.

As for the difference between being an honorable and being the Speaker, to me, there is no fundamental difference, because I gave everything I had as an honorable. I see the speakership as a continuation of that commitment. I am simply wired to lead.

But the Speaker of Independence Hall is a different matter entirely. The same way the Indy Press is unlike any other student press in this university, the Speaker of Independence Hall carries a weight that goes beyond the chamber. People come to you, even those outside this hall  to seek opinions, seek help, seek mediation. You become a stakeholder in matters that do not even directly concern you, simply because this is Independence Hall.

The challenges come daily. Before I arrived here, I was already resolving an issue between some executive members and general Katangites this morning. That is how every day in this office goes and I say that not as a complaint, but because it is simply the work.

According to you, these duties are not written in the constitution. Can you elaborate on that?

Some duties are not constitutional.  They are simply what people come to you for. When I was still an honorable member and not yet a principal officer, students would knock on my door whenever the Defence raided, telling me what had been confiscated. Strictly speaking, that was not my duty. But they came anyway. This morning, a Katangite reached out to tell me he was in financial difficulty. That is not a constitutional duty either. But you have to be there for people because that is what this office means in practice.

There have been concerns about certain floors collecting what some call “floor dues.” As a former floor representative, did you ever introduce such a practice on your floor?

There is nothing formally called “floor dues.” What happens is that when a challenge arises on the floor like a broken door, a faulty AC, a missing padlock . Then, floor members are called together and we collectively agree on a contribution to fix it. It is entirely voluntary. The floor itself enforces the agreement, not the floor representative.

Even then, some members do not contribute and we proceed with whatever resources we have. Sometimes you do not even need a collective contribution. If your door needs a catcher, you fix it yourself. It is the same principle that operates within rooms. If roommates agree to buy a new power board, that is not a “room due.” It is just people solving a shared problem together.

Legislative sittings across the university are often known for poor timekeeping. What is your administration’s position on this?

I completely frown upon lateness. An ideal legislator should be honorable not just in title, but in conduct, in how they dress, how they speak and how they handle matters. People were calling me “Honorable” before I was ever elected to the position, because of how I carried myself.

I told my honorable members from the first sitting that our six o’clock shall mean six o’clock. I was there at that time. Unfortunately, two members arrived late, which delayed us by about thirty minutes ; we needed their presence to form the quorum. But to be clear, the majority were on ground without the introduction of any fine. That itself shows progress.

Moving forward, we will set sitting times that are convenient for members given their class schedules. And if lateness persists without notification, the constitution provides for a fine ; and I will enforce it. The issue of fuel and generator logistics that caused delays in the past has also been resolved, now that we have solar power for the venue. That is no longer an excuse.

You served on the Audit Committee of the last administration. There have been ongoing concerns about the Katanga package, financial allegations, and pending resolutions from the last session. What steps has the house taken?

One of the persistent challenges facing legislative councils everywhere is the implementation of resolutions. I have served in enough capacities to know how resolutions get passed and then quietly abandoned. I also know how to prevent that.

All resolutions passed at our last sitting have been followed up. The only matter still outstanding is the Katanga package i.e., the shirts, books, and other items. I saw a distribution list this morning, but it does not fully comply with the terms of the resolution as passed. The resolution required a memo to be released. When I engaged the Executive Council, I discovered the issue runs deeper than the memo ; there are internal complications that the Hall Warden has been involved in resolving.

I will say this plainly, I personally have not gone to collect my own package. It would not sit right with me to be seen carrying my shirt while general Katangites are still waiting for theirs. I will collect mine last.

On the broader question of ensuring resolutions are respected, any non-compliance is a gross misconduct. The constitution provides for referral to the Disciplinary Committee, and the house can also deliberate on appropriate consequences. But let me be clear: the punishment comes after the resolution is fulfilled, not instead of it.

The resolution circulation from the last sitting reportedly took close to seven days. What is the house’s position on timely circulation going forward?

The delay in that instance was caused by a technical problem; the clerk’s phone developed a fault during the sitting and was only fixed some days later. That is not a standard we will accept going forward.

Our position is simple: resolutions shall be circulated as soon as a sitting concludes. There should be no pestering, no follow-up requests, no waiting. From this assembly onward, that is the standard.

What are your broader plans for the council and for Katangites?

The first is integrity. This council exists to serve Katangites, not to serve our own interests. No one should tarnish their individual image, and the image of the council as a whole must be protected ; through diligent, principled work.

Second, we want to establish what ideal legislation actually looks like. Last Saturday, we held a parliamentary and legislative workshop on that very theme, inviting guests to speak to it. We will continue such training sessions throughout the session.

Third, this council will not be a rubber stamp. Outside the chamber, we are brothers. Inside it, we are legislators. If there is corruption or misconduct to address, friendship will not be a shield. We will do our duty regardless.

On the welfare of Katangites specifically,  every policy, every budget, every oversight action must serve the people of this hall. I also want to address the issue of bullying directly: while it may not fall strictly within our legislative mandate, I will not allow it to be treated as a minor matter. Any Katangite who makes another feel unsafe or undermined will face consequences.

We have also, for what I believe is the first time in a while, asked every honorable member and floor representative to submit a constituency report. Those reports have been forwarded to the Internal Affairs committee for deliberation, and the recommendations will be sent to management and the Executive Council. That is how we intend to ensure that individual concerns across every floor are addressed systematically.

Finally, we have plans to provide a welfare package for the hall cleaners. These are people who do work that many would not, without complaint, without recognition. We want to appreciate them. The funding will come from the assembly’s own resources, and we intend to execute the first package this semester.

There have also been complaints that the “toilets are not being properly cleaned, and that the cleaners lack basic supplies like soap.” What does the house does the house intend to address this?

The cleaners work under the management, and I must be honest, I was not previously aware that they lacked cleaning supplies. But now that it has been raised, the approach is straightforward. Floor representatives must observe, report, and follow up. Management cannot be everywhere. Our job is to bridge that gap and to notice what is happening on the ground, verify it, and present it formally to management for resolution.

We will not simply take what we hear at face value without confirming it. But if it is confirmed that the cleaners are without the materials they need to do their job, that is something we will report to management and follow through on.

According to the constitution, you sit on the Hall Management Committee. Does that committee actually function?

To my knowledge, the committee has not yet been formally constituted this session. There has not been a general management meeting since the new session began and we have a new Hall Warden, new management, and the accommodation situation is still being sorted. I intend to raise the question of the committee directly with the Hall Warden once things stabilise.

When it is established, every constituency reports, welfare concerns and outstanding issues will be formally tabled there. That is the appropriate channel, and I intend to use it.

Speaking of accommodation, is the situation still unresolved?

Yes, it is still ongoing. There are students allocated to this hall who have not yet been assigned rooms. The university portal is currently closed and the general availability of accommodation from the university management remains unclear. There is also the question of the kitchenettes, whether they will remain kitchenettes or be converted to rooms to accommodate more students. These are all still pending matters.

The previous Speaker indicated the audit of the Indy Hall Maracana had been forwarded to university management. What is the current state of things?

The 14th assembly did not clear Peculiar Adedeji across the board. He was cleared on allegations for which he provided verified evidence. On allegations where he could not clear himself, he was fined. The resolution was specific, it was not a blanket exoneration.

On the Maracana audit specifically, to my knowledge, it has been referred to a higher authority within the university and remains ongoing. That matter is now with the Hall Management and the university management. What I can say is that if the Sports Secretary or any member of the Executive Council believes there is an ongoing safety risk on that pitch, it is within their power as a member of the Hall Management to table it formally and push for a resolution. The audit is not closed.

What is your current relationship with the AG?

He is the Administrator General of Independence Hall, and I am a Katangite. That is the first relationship. Beyond that, there is the formal relationship between our two offices — legislative and executive are built on duty and mutual accountability. And beyond both of those, there is the relationship of brotherhood, because we are Katangites. All three exist simultaneously.

Beyond loopholes, do you believe there are areas of genuine ambiguity in the Independence Hall constitution that are open to interpretation in ways that could be exploited? 

The council is currently reviewing it. We have set up a committee and members have been tasked with going through the constitution article by article and submitting their observations. We have already identified areas, particularly around separation of powers that need to be addressed.

I have also extended an invitation to the Indy Press to participate in the committee. A constitution belongs to every Katangite, not just the assembly. The press is an institution that can observe what works and what does not, and that perspective is genuinely valuable. I look forward to your input.

You hold several positions across the university. Where is all of this heading?

Toward impact. That is the honest answer.

I came to UI intending to spend my years here as a pressman. I have been involved in the press for about twelve years observing, contributing and learning. But a week before the first election I ever contested here, I declared against a candidate who had been campaigning for five months and won. Since then, positions have come in ways I did not always seek.

I have deliberately resigned from positions when I felt I could not give them what they deserved. Right now there are positions I have declined; some of them presidential roles because I know my schedule and I know my limits. I nominated others for some of those roles instead, because I believe in creating room for others to lead.

After this speakership, I will continue to lead in whatever capacity that takes. Not because of titles, but because of what I can offer. They were calling me “Honorable” before I was ever elected. That tells you something about what leadership actually is.

As someone who holds several positions, what is your view on the concern that student leaders might accumulate roles merely for their portfolio, and how do you personally ensure that your commitments to Katangites are not diluted?

It is a valid concern and one I take seriously, because it is not only about execution, it is also about personal life. Some people accumulate positions simply for their portfolio, to build a profile. That is a reality in student politics and I will not pretend otherwise.

But there is another reality, some individuals genuinely have the capacity to contribute meaningfully in multiple spaces, and institutions recognise that capacity and call on it. The question is whether you are honest enough with yourself to know the difference and whether you are willing to step back when you cannot deliver.

I have stepped back. I will continue to do so when necessary. Positions mean nothing if the work is not being done.

Finally, on freedom of the press. Are you assuring Katangites and the press that the house will be open to inquiry and accountability?

We will do our duty effectively and that is an assurance. On freedom of the press, no one in this council will obstruct your work or deny you access to information you are entitled to.

I will say this, there will be times when the house needs to arrive at a final position before speaking publicly on a matter. In those instances, we may ask you to wait for our concluded resolution rather than a premature response. That is not obstruction rather it is a process. Do not mistake the two.

But your freedom? It is yours. Use it. Investigate, corner us if you must, put us on our toes. That is exactly what you are here for. And if we are doing what is right, we will have nothing to fear from it.